SOS 315 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
Command & Control - Answer-The use of government power to impose regulation and
legislation on agents and firms of an industry.
Price Anderson Nuclear Indemnity Act - Answer-1957 act that requires insurance for
nuclear companies to cover costs of nuclear related incidents. The amount of insurance
is based on the probability that an accident will occur. The act also created an insurance
pool funded by other nuclear plants that covers the costs in excess of the insurance.
Stakeholder - Answer-A person who has interest in or is directly affected by something.
This is usually referred to in business but can be related to any situation.
Non Government Organization - Answer-Organizations that are independent of the
government. In relation to the course, these can be both energy industry and other
industry organizations.
Why are NGOs relevant? - Answer-They paints a picture that not only organizations
who are involved in the government or have governmental power are interested in
energy law.
NGOs that are in the energy industry are going to be extremely interested and invested
in the energy policy and are going to represent the interest of different sectors within the
energy industry
Building Codes - Answer-Regulations that affect the design, structure, construction, and
alteration of buildings. In some cases, these codes apply to remodeling, however they
almost always are going to apply to new home construction. Building codes are
controlled by the state.
Why are building codes relevant? - Answer-They are put in place to help make buildings
more efficient and reduce energy consumption by households and help to portray the
power that states have relating to energy policy
Department of Energy - Answer-Department of the US government who is concerned
with energy policy and the safety of nuclear energy and nuclear power plants. The
Department of Energy does a lot of research and development.
Why is the department of energy relevant? - Answer-Their input is involved in energy
policy processes and their research is important in the creation of policy regarding
energy
Net Metering - Answer-A system in which renewable energy generators are connected
to a public-utility power grid and surplus power is transferred onto the grid. This allow
, customers to offset the cost of power drawn from the utility when their renewable energy
is not producing enough energy to sustain their energy usage (i.e. at nighttime when
you are using solar power to produce energy for your home).
Why is Net Metering Relevant? - Answer-A big issue regarding energy policy and the
use of renewable energy is the fluctuation in renewable energy output
It is difficult to produce solar energy when the sun is not out. . It also promotes
individuals to switch to a renewable source.
Revolving Door - Answer-The back and forth motion between the private and public
sectors. This can be displayed as someone who was in the private sector and then
holds a public office that created policy for that public sector, or someone who held a
public office and then goes to a private sector in which they created policy for.
Why is the revolving door relevant? - Answer-In creating policy it is important to have
people who are experts, and it is most easily found in the private sector. However, this
can cause issues with the policy that is created (it may favor the sector that the person
came from)
Arizona Corporation Commission - Answer-The committee that regulates utilities in the
state of Arizona. The corporation commission chooses the price that utilities are allowed
to charge their customers in order to stop utilities from monopolizing their power over
such an important resource.
Why is the Arizona Corporation Commission relevant? - Answer-Helps us understand
the limits that state governments can impose on utilities that provide energy resources
to the public.
Congressional Committee - Answer-Subsets of the congress that handle specific
matters. Some relevant congressional committees to this course are: energy and
natural resources, environment and public works, natural resources, and energy and
commerce.
Why are congressional committees relevant? - Answer-Congress is involved in making
laws and these laws can directly affect energy and overall energy policy. Understanding
CCs portrays the structure of the policy making process
Federal Electricity Reliability Corporation - Answer-Federal agency that oversees the
reliability of the power grid. The corporation has power over wholesale electricity sales,
natural gas pricing, oil pipeline rigs, and licensing small scale plants.
Why is FERC relevant? - Answer-Management of the power grid is extremely important
in maintaining energy stability and energy policy. It also helps to portray the fact that
federal agencies have more independence over policy than cabinet departments which
is important to energy policy.
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
Command & Control - Answer-The use of government power to impose regulation and
legislation on agents and firms of an industry.
Price Anderson Nuclear Indemnity Act - Answer-1957 act that requires insurance for
nuclear companies to cover costs of nuclear related incidents. The amount of insurance
is based on the probability that an accident will occur. The act also created an insurance
pool funded by other nuclear plants that covers the costs in excess of the insurance.
Stakeholder - Answer-A person who has interest in or is directly affected by something.
This is usually referred to in business but can be related to any situation.
Non Government Organization - Answer-Organizations that are independent of the
government. In relation to the course, these can be both energy industry and other
industry organizations.
Why are NGOs relevant? - Answer-They paints a picture that not only organizations
who are involved in the government or have governmental power are interested in
energy law.
NGOs that are in the energy industry are going to be extremely interested and invested
in the energy policy and are going to represent the interest of different sectors within the
energy industry
Building Codes - Answer-Regulations that affect the design, structure, construction, and
alteration of buildings. In some cases, these codes apply to remodeling, however they
almost always are going to apply to new home construction. Building codes are
controlled by the state.
Why are building codes relevant? - Answer-They are put in place to help make buildings
more efficient and reduce energy consumption by households and help to portray the
power that states have relating to energy policy
Department of Energy - Answer-Department of the US government who is concerned
with energy policy and the safety of nuclear energy and nuclear power plants. The
Department of Energy does a lot of research and development.
Why is the department of energy relevant? - Answer-Their input is involved in energy
policy processes and their research is important in the creation of policy regarding
energy
Net Metering - Answer-A system in which renewable energy generators are connected
to a public-utility power grid and surplus power is transferred onto the grid. This allow
, customers to offset the cost of power drawn from the utility when their renewable energy
is not producing enough energy to sustain their energy usage (i.e. at nighttime when
you are using solar power to produce energy for your home).
Why is Net Metering Relevant? - Answer-A big issue regarding energy policy and the
use of renewable energy is the fluctuation in renewable energy output
It is difficult to produce solar energy when the sun is not out. . It also promotes
individuals to switch to a renewable source.
Revolving Door - Answer-The back and forth motion between the private and public
sectors. This can be displayed as someone who was in the private sector and then
holds a public office that created policy for that public sector, or someone who held a
public office and then goes to a private sector in which they created policy for.
Why is the revolving door relevant? - Answer-In creating policy it is important to have
people who are experts, and it is most easily found in the private sector. However, this
can cause issues with the policy that is created (it may favor the sector that the person
came from)
Arizona Corporation Commission - Answer-The committee that regulates utilities in the
state of Arizona. The corporation commission chooses the price that utilities are allowed
to charge their customers in order to stop utilities from monopolizing their power over
such an important resource.
Why is the Arizona Corporation Commission relevant? - Answer-Helps us understand
the limits that state governments can impose on utilities that provide energy resources
to the public.
Congressional Committee - Answer-Subsets of the congress that handle specific
matters. Some relevant congressional committees to this course are: energy and
natural resources, environment and public works, natural resources, and energy and
commerce.
Why are congressional committees relevant? - Answer-Congress is involved in making
laws and these laws can directly affect energy and overall energy policy. Understanding
CCs portrays the structure of the policy making process
Federal Electricity Reliability Corporation - Answer-Federal agency that oversees the
reliability of the power grid. The corporation has power over wholesale electricity sales,
natural gas pricing, oil pipeline rigs, and licensing small scale plants.
Why is FERC relevant? - Answer-Management of the power grid is extremely important
in maintaining energy stability and energy policy. It also helps to portray the fact that
federal agencies have more independence over policy than cabinet departments which
is important to energy policy.
